Age old advice tells us that prevention is the best cure, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But for people suffering from life altering conditions (and members of their family), those words of advice provide little consolation.
Recent years has seen a number of advances in medical technology as scientists are discovering more about the intricate inner workings of the body. By combining these discoveries with advances in electronic and robotic technology, new treatment options are becoming available for some of the most historically challenging diseases.
While not all of the advances mentioned here will actually hit main stream medical facilities this year, many are already undergoing testing as prototypes or in clinical trials.
Type 1 Diabetes
In the world of diabetes, research is going in several directions. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first artificial pancreas, also known as a hybrid closed loop system, for sale in the United States by Medtronic.1
The system is an insulin pump that is worn on the body with a catheter inserted beneath the skin; it utilizes a device which continuously monitors blood glucose levels and calculates the amount of insulin needed based on the wearer’s activity level, carb intake, and other factors including sleep.2
Currently, the system calculates mealtime insulin requirements based on trends recorded by the device; manual adjustments may need to be made to help the device account for an unusual meal.3 Research continues in order to find a way to eliminate the need for manual intervention.
Other research is aimed at finding ways to cause tissue regeneration within the pancreas itself. Researchers at the University of Southern California have discovered that non-insulin producing pancreatic (alpha) cells change into insulin producing (beta) cells during periods of fasting. The fasting-mimicking diet used in patients with type 1 diabetes not only caused an increase in insulin producing cells, but those cells actually replaced defective insulin producing cells.4
Various other studies have shown that certain foods, herbs, and certain natural substances also stimulates insulin producing cell regeneration. Some of these include L-arginine, avocado, berberine, chard, corn silk, curcumin, genistein, honey, nigella sativa (black seed), and stevia.5
The stumbling block to curing type 1 diabetes is being able to turn the immune system away from attacking the pancreas and its insulin producing cells. Much advancement has been made in fighting auto-immune diseases, with the most dramatic results coming from changing to a holistic lifestyle. By removing processed foods and sugar, managing stress, healing the digestive system, and getting appropriate exercise many auto-immune diseases either disappear or become very manageable.6
Perhaps the future cure for type 1 diabetes will be a combination of these natural methods.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a form of dementia in which the brain becomes impaired by deposits of amyloid plague and tau protein in the brain itself. Researchers have been conducting trials on both animals and people with a variety of drugs aimed at reducing these deposits. Currently, the only drugs approved for use in the United States are ones which temporarily help with memory and thinking problems.7
There appear to be several contributing factors to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease which makes finding a cure more challenging, especially when not everyone who has amyloid plague deposits develops the disease.8
Some of the clinical trials with new drugs that are showing promise include antibody treatment,9 drugs that prevent or lessen nerve cell damage,8 a drug that stimulates the immune system to help protect brain matter, and other drugs that target genetic mutations7.
In 2015, Australian scientists at the Queensland Brain Institutes Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research made what is considered a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s treatment with the use of ultrasound.10
Clinical trials with focused ultrasound therapy being conducted at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada in 2017 showed great promise as a non-invasive treatment to remove plague deposits in the brain. Antibody drug therapy combined with focused ultrasound therapy makes treatment more effective since the blood brain barrier is temporarily opened with the use of microbubbles.11
By opening the blood brain barrier, drugs can interact directly on the brain, and loosened plagues can be flushed out. Researchers hope that ultrasound therapy will prove helpful in the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases.12
And finally, in a small study conducted jointly with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the UCLA Easton Laboratories for Neurodegenerative Disease Research it was stated that the procedure known as metabolic enhancement for neurodegeneration (MEND) was “ the first to objectively show that memory loss in patients can be reversed, and improvement sustained, using a complex, 36-point therapeutic personalized program that involves comprehensive changes in diet, brain stimulation, exercise, optimization of sleep, specific pharmaceuticals and vitamins, and multiple additional steps that affect brain chemistry.”13
Cancer
The subject of cancer is immensely broad due to the fact that cancerous cells can develop and begin multiplying virtually any place in your body; the current number of different types of cancer exceeds 100,14 and practically every year some new rare type of cancer is discovered.
In the fight against cancer, it is critically important that it is detected as early as possible. Along with that is the need for the cancer to be correctly identified. There is much controversy over the use of radiation for detecting cancers (such as breast cancer), since exposure to radiation increases the risk of developing cancer.
Currently, scientists are using blood tests, liquid biopsies, to look for DNA fragments which have a genetic mutation that has been identified with a particular cancer. While early detection is still the ultimate goal, liquid biopsies also can help the physician to track the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
To date, a liquid biopsy is capable of detecting ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreas, esophageal, colon, lung, and breast cancer. This is great news since there are no screening tests for ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer, however, the effectiveness of the test varies with the type and stage of cancer present.15
Also, on the forefront of cancer treatment is what is known as immunotherapy. Immunotherapy uses the cancer patient’s own immune system to help detect and fight cancers present in the body.
In 2017, the FDA approved over a dozen cancer immunotherapies. Two types of immunotherapy are CAR T cell, and checkpoint. CAR T cell immunotherapies uses the patient’s T cells to specifically target the cancer; which is an important new treatment for leukemia and lymphoma.16
Checkpoint immunotherapy utilizes a drug called a checkpoint inhibitor to block a mechanism that cancer cells use to shutdown or hide from the immune system. By making the cancer cells visible, the immune system’s killer T cells can then identify the cancer and attack it.17
While immunotherapy many times appears to be more successful than other cancer treatment options, one of the major drawbacks to its use is the possibility of causing the immune system to become overactive, thereby attacking healthy tissue. For those with an aggressive form of cancer, or those who have not had success with other forms of cancer treatment, trying immunotherapy may be worth the risk.
Acute Infections
In the case of acute illness, it can be a race against the clock to determine the source of the illness. Point of care DNA sequencers have shown a fairly high rate of accuracy for determining if the infection is bacterial or viral.18
In the overall battle for fighting infection, being able to specifically identify the pathogen responsible for the illness will go a long way in preventing antibiotic resistant bacteria from developing by eliminating unnecessary or inappropriate antibiotic use.
Goals for improving this technology include expanding the database of pathogens it can identify, and reducing the time it takes to for the test to run from 10 hours to one hour. It is envisioned in the near future for point of care DNA sequencers to be deployed in all doctor’s offices and critical care facilities. I see this used to help prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases such as Ebola and even tuberculous.
Improvements in Surgery
No doubt that the use of robotics in the operating room has enabled surgeons to perform intricate operations with more precision, smaller incisions, reduced time in surgery, and reduced stress on both the surgeon and the patient.
While the science of robotics continues to advance, a new tool for surgeons is on the horizon. Augmented reality is currently being used in training scenarios but may soon find its way into the operating room in conjunction with robotic instruments.
Augmented reality has the potential to give the surgeon, or surgeons, a 3D view of the body during surgery giving the doctor a more complete view of the tissue in the area that they are working; which could lead to smaller incisions and fewer surgical mistakes.
The 3D image is built ahead of time through the use of MRI and CT scans. The surgeon wears an augmented reality headset that is driven by software which allows him to interact with the 3D image; enabling him to remove an organ from view to get a closer look at a particular area.19 This could be particularly useful in brain surgery.
While this technology is in its infancy, scientists envision a future where surgery is full automated.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when a person is asleep in which there is a pause in breathing outside of what is normal. Repetitive pauses in breathing is a serious condition which results in poor sleep quality, and could lead to a stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, and obesity. There are two types of sleep apnea; obstructive and central.20
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when there is an obstruction of the airway caused by a relaxation of the muscles in the back of the throat, and is usually associated with snoring. Often, as the throat muscles relax the tongue moves back further blocking the airway.
To treat obstructive sleep apnea, several devices are available. They range from a simple mouthpiece designed to position the tongue and lower jaw forward, to devices that provide positive airway pressure.21
In 2014, the FDA approved for use a device which stimulates the hypoglossal nerve in the tongue and throat. It is controlled by a device that is implanted under the skin which monitors your breathing; a mild electric shock is delivered via electrodes to the hypoglossal nerve, thereby opening the airway.21
Up until 2017, there was little help available for suffers of central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the diaphragm, resulting in lapses in breathing.22
In October of 2017, the FDA approved for use the Remede System which monitors your breathing and sends an electrical impulse to stimulate the phrenic nerve via implanted electrodes when breathing stops for too long. It is controlled by a device that is implanted under the skin.20
While both of these devices have their limitations, for those who have not been helped by more traditional treatments and/or devices for sleep apnea, one of these devices may provide the help you need.
Be looking ahead for advances in medicine, but in the meantime, remember to take care of yourself everyday with proper nutrition and exercise, and work on reducing toxins and stress in your life. Practice prevention to avoid disease, but if it is unavoidable your chances of recovery are much greater if you take good care of yourself.
References
- The Artificial Pancreas Device System. (2017, February 02). Retrieved from U.S. Food and Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productionsandmedicalprocedures/homehealthandconsumer/consumerproducts/artificialpancreas/default.htm
- Curry, A. (2017, May). The Artificial Pancreas: Now and in the Future. Retrieved from Diabetes Forecast: www.diabetesforecast.org/2017/may-jun/building-a-better-pancreas.html
- Gordon, S. (2016, September 28). FDA Approves First “Artificial Pancreas” for Type 1 Diabetes. Retrieved from CBS News: https://cbsnews.com/news/fda-approves-first-artificial-pancreas-type-1-diabetes-medtronic-minimed-670g/
- Newcomb, B. (2017, February 24). Fasting-mimicking Diet May Reverse Diabetes. Retrieved from USC University of Southern California: https://news.usc.edu/116842/fasting-mimicking-diet-may-reverse-diabetes/
- Ji, S. (2013, June 26). 10 Natural Substances That Could Help Cure Type 1 Diabetes. Retrieved from GreenMedinfo: www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/10-natural-substances-may-help-cure-type-1-diabetes
- 6. Fasting-mimicking Diet May Reverse Diabetes. (2017, February 23). Retrieved from Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170223124259.htm
- Treatment Horizon. (n.d.). Retrieved from Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_treatment_horizon.asp
- Innovative Treatment Holds Promise for New Approach to Alzheimer’s Treatment. (2016, February 12). Retrieved from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/02/12/innovative-treatment-holds-promise-for-new-approach-to-alzheimers-treatment.html
- Johnston, I. (2016, August 31). Alzheimer’s Disease breakthrough as New Drug Clears Toxic Proteins from Patients’ Brains. Retrieved from Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/alzheimers-disease-dementia-breakthrough-new-drug-scientists-a7218481.html
- Moore, C. (2015, March 14). Australian Scientists Make Alzheimer’s Treatment Breakthrough Using Ultrasound Technology. Retrieved from Alzheimer’s News Today: https://alzheimersnewstoday.com/2015/03/14/australian-scientists-make-alzheimers-treatment-breakthrough-using-ultrasound-technology/
- Alzheimer’s Disease. (2017, November 17). Retrieved from Focused Ultrasound Foundation: https://www.fusfoundation.org/diseases-and-conditions/neurological/alzheimers-disease
- Jeffrey, C. (2015, March 12). Non-invasive Alzheimer’s Treatment Restores Memory Using Ultrasound. Retrieved from New Atlas: https://newatlas.com/alzheimers-dementia-treatment-ultrasound/36510/
- Pre and Post Testing Show Reversal of Memory Loss From Alzheimer’s Disease in Ten Patients. (2016, June 15). Retrieved from Buck Institute: http://www.buckinstitute.org/buck-news/reversal-memory-loss-ad
- Cancer Types. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/types
- Netburn, D. (2018, January 18). This New Blood Test Can Detect Early Signs of 8 Kinds of Cancer. Retrieved from Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-blood-test-cancer-20180118-story.html
- Brodsky, A. N. (2017, December 28). Immunotherapy is Here to Stay: Looking Back at This Year’s Breakthroughs. Retrieved from Cancer Research Institute: https://www.cancerresearch.org/blog/december-2017/immunotherapy-2017-recap-highlights
- Grady, D., & Pollack, A. (2016, July 30). What is Immunotherapy? The Basics on These Cancer Treatments. Retrieved from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/health/what-is-immunotherapy-cancer-treatment.html
- Whiteman, H. (2016, January 21). Blood Test Could Identify Which Patients Need Antibiotics. Retrieved from Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305247.php
- Reynolds, M. (2017, May 11). Augmented Reality Goggles Give Surgeons X-ray Vision. Retrieved from New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2130678-augmented-reality-goggles-give-surgeons-x-ray-vision//
- FDA Approves Implantable Device to Treat Moderate to Severe Central Sleep Apnea. (2017, October 17). Retrieved from U.S. Food and Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm579506.htm
- The Latest Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Sleep Foundation: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems-list/the-latest-treatments-obstructive-sleep-apnea
- Is This New Treatment the Cure for Sleep Apnoea? (2017, October 12). Retrieved from Health 24: https://www.health24.com/Medical/Sleep/News/is-this-new-treatment-the-cure-for-sleep-apnoea-20171012
- 23. Gut Bacteria May Hold Key to Treating Autoimmune Disease. (2016, December 19). Retrieved from Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219100126.htm
